Jimi: Sounds Like A Rainbow

Title: Jimi: Sounds Like A Rainbow
Author: Gary Golio
Illustrator: Javaka Steptoe
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Picture Book
Publisher: Clarion Books
Date of Publications: 2010
Award: Coretta Scott King
Theme: Being creativity and Music
Primary/ Secondary Characters: Jimmi Hendrix/
Summary: Jimmi Hendrix is a great known guitar player, but before he was a great guitar player he was a young boy. This book tells about the life of Jimi Hendrix when he was a kid. It talks about how he had an extremely creative mind and loved anything to do with music. He also loved to paint and draw, In fact he loved to do anything that involved creativity. When Jimmi was a boy he continuously wondered if a person could paint a picture with sound.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used with students to see how fun being creative can be. It can also be used to start an activity based on creativity where the students use their creatives sides for the activity. This book could also be used in a music class as way to look at the childhood of Jimmi Hendrix.

Kiss Me, I'm Perfect

Title: Kiss Me, I'm Perfect
Author: Robert Munsch
Illustrator: Michael Martchenko
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Picture Book
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Date of Publication: 2006
Theme: Everything is not what it seems
Primary/ Secondary Characters: Lacey/ Mom, Grandma, Cat, Dog, Eagle, Teacher, Johnny, and Bear
Summary: Lacey has no clean clothes to wear anywhere, so she runs downstairs and asks her mom for a clean shirt, but the only one she has is the one Grandma gave Lacey. This shirt has the phrase Kiss Me I'm Perfect on it and Lacey did not want to wear it, but she did any way. On her way to school a cat saw Lacey's shirt and gave her a kitty kiss. Then Lacey saw a dog, eagle, and moose and got kisses from all of them. She thought it was really neat so she ran into class and told her teacher. Once Lacey sat down she got a surprise kiss from Johnny which she thought was gross, but then she went outside and received a bear kiss. It turn out Lacey's shirt was cool and everyone wanted one.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used with students to help them see things are not always what they seem. In this book Lacey did not want to wear Grandmas shirt because she thought she would be made fun of, but everyone loved it. Students will be able to see that somethings are not as bad as they think they are from reading this book.

Buzz Said the Bee

Title: Buzz Said the Bee
Author: Wendy Lewison
Illustrator: Hans Wilhelm
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Picture Book
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Date of Publication: 1992
Theme: Sounds of animals
Primary/ Secondary Characters: Bee/ Duck, Hen, Pig, Cow, and Sheep
Summary: A bee sat on a duck. The duck quacked and then sat on a hen. The hen clucked and did a jig then sat on a pig. The pig oinked, bowed, and sat on a cow. The cow then mooed, began to weep, and sat on a sheep, who was asleep. Then the cow mooed, the pig oinked, the hen clucked, the duck quacked, and the bee buzzed. Then the sheep woke up and that is that.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used with students as a fun way for them to learn what noises certain animals make. Throughout the book there are different animals and the noises they all make. This book is a fun way for students to learn animal sounds.

Just Going to the Dentist

Title: Just Going to the Dentist
Author: Mercer Mayer
Illustrator: Mercer Mayer
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Picture Book
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Date of Publication: 1990
Theme: Going to the Dentist
Primary/ Secondary Characters: Narrator/ Mom, Nurse, and Dentist
Summary: The Narrator has to go to the dentist to get a check-up so his mom took him. When they got there they had to wait for his turn. It was his turn so the nurse came and got him and took him back to the room where he sat in a funny chair. The nurse then cleaned his teeth and took some x-rays. Then the dentist came in
to look in his mouth. Next the dentist, narrator, and his mom looked at the x-rays and realized he had a cavity. The dentist put the narrator back in the chair and fixed his cavity. Afterwards he got a treat and went home.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used with the students to help them learn about going to the dentist and what happens when going to the dentist. The students can see the different thing that happen when they go to the dentist so maybe they will not be so scared. The students can also see how important it is to brush their teeth so they do not get a cavity.

The Magic School Bus Comes to Its Senses

Title: The Magic School Bus Comes to Its Senses
Author: Kristin Earhart
Illustrator: Carolyn Bracken
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Picture Book
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Date of Publication: 2009
Theme: Learning about the five senses
Primary/ Secondary Characters: Ms. Frizzle/ Arnold, Ralphie, Keesha, Phoebe, Carlos, Tim, Wanda, and Dorothy Ann
Summary: Ms. Frizzles Class is learning all about the senses so she takes the kids on a field trip to learn more. The class goes to the apple orchard where a family is having a picnic and then the bus shrinks. The students then learn about the five senses; hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting, and smelling, as the travel through the body. When they are all done they get back on the bus and head back to the school for a picnic.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used with students as a way for them to learn all about the senses. As Ms. Frizzle and the kids travel through the body looking at the senses students can learn about the senses. The students can also test their knowledge on the senses when Ms. Frizzle ask questions throughout the book.

Curious George Vists the Library

Title: Curious George Vists the Library
Author: Margret and H.A. Reys
Illustrator: H.A. Rey and Martha Weston
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Picture Book
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Date of Publication: 2003
Theme: A trip to the Library
Primary/ Secondary Characters: George/ Man with the yellow hat, librarian, children, and library volunteer
Summary: George and the man with the yellow hat went to the library. At the library George went to story time to listen to stories, but he started to get impatient when he saw a dinosaur book sitting on the table. George then went to go get the book and made a scene in story time. Now that George has the dinosaur book he went to find the man with the yellow hat and on the way he found more books he wanted. He then found a library cart and started to roll through the library collecting books when all of a sudden the cart crashed and books went everywhere. George and the kids then helped the library volunteer put all the books back. After all the books were up the library volunteer helped George get a library card and check out his books.
Summary of how to use with the students: This book could be used with students as a way to show them how fun the library can be. The students can also see that in the library you need to be quiet. Students can see from reading this book that a library is a fun place where you can find all kinds of books.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Title: Chichka Chicka Boom Boom
Author: Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
Illustrator: Lois Ehlert
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Picture Book
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Date of Publication: 1989
Theme: Learning the Alphabet
Primary/ Secondary Characters: Letters A-Z/ Mamas, Papas, Aunts, and Uncles
Summary: All of the letters are racing to the top of the coconut tree, but will there be enough room. Once all the letters make it to the top of the tree they all fall out. Mamas, Papas, Aunts, and Uncles then run to the coconut tree to help their loved ones. Finally everyone was back with their loved ones and then letter A was out of bed and went back up the coconut tree.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used with the students as a way to help them learn the letters of the alphabet. Throughout the book all the letters are mentioned in the text as well as shown in the illustrations. This way the students can learn the letters of the alphabet and what they look like.

Big Wolf and Little Wolf

Title: Big Wolf and Little Wolf
Author: Nadine Brun Cosme
Illustrator: Olivier Tallec
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Picture Book
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books
Date of Publication: 2009
Award: Mildred L. Batchelder
Theme: Feelings and Friendship
Primary and Secondary Characters: Big Wolf/ Little Wolf
Summary: Big Wolf lives alone and one day he sees a Little Wolf approaching him. Without saying anything Little Wolf sits down next to Big Wolf. At first Big Wolf ios not to sure about Little Wolf, but he grows to like him. Then Little Wolf disappears and Big Wolf starts to become upset. Finally Little Wolf comes back and they agree to never leave each other again.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could help the students see how important friendships are. Students can see that having a friend can make a person happy and without a friend they can be lonely.

Through My Eyes

Title: Through My Eyes
Author: Ruby Bridges
Illustrator: Margo Lundell
Genre: Nonfiction Biography
Sub genre: Picture Book
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Date of Publication: 1999
Award: Orbis Pictus
Theme: Racism and Civil Rights
Primary/ Secondary Characters: Ruby Bridges/ Mother
Summary: Ruby Bridges was a six year old girl living in New Orleans during the the 1960s. She talks about the role she played in the integration of public schools. Ruby was the only black girl chosen to attend William Fretz public school. In the book she talks about the emotions, feelings, and situations she went through because of the circumstances.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used with students to help them understand more about racism and civil rights. Through this book students will be able to see what students went through back then. They will also be able to learn about the feelings and emotions they experienced during this time.

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachin Spring

Title: Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachin Spring
Author: Jan Greenbery and Sandra Jordan
Illustrator: Brain Floca
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub genre: Picture Book
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Date of Publication: 2010
Award: Robert F. Sibert
Theme: Creating Appalachin Spring
Primary/ Secondary Characters: Martha Graham/ Aaron Copland and Isamu Noguchi
Summary: Martha Grahama had an idea to tell the story of America through movement and music. Martha was doing the choreography but she need people to help her with music and scene designs. So Aaron Copland does the music and Isamu Noguchi does the scenes. Together they create a great show that tells the story of America. The show is called Appalachin Spring.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used with students to show them that there are many ways to express themselves. They can see that they can use movement, music , drawing and many more things to express their feelings or ideas. An activity students could do is practicing expressing themselves using different ways.

One Crazy Summer

Title: One Crazy Summer
Author: Rita Williams Garcia
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Historical
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date of Publication: 2010
Award: Coretta Scott King
Theme: Equal Rights
Primary/ Secondary Characters: Delphine/ Big Ma, Pa, Cecile, Fern, and Vonetta
Summary: Delphine and her two younger sisters are being sent to their mothers for the summer. The girls do not know their mother because she left when they were younger and had nothing to do with them. When the girls got to their mothers they wanted to go back home because the mother was treating them badly. They were sent to camp during the day and then  had to fend for themselves night. While the girls are there they realize that the center where they are at was a rights activists group called the Black Panthers, which their mother was a part of. One night after camp when the girls got home and their mother was being arrested and they had to stay with friends. Later in the summer the girls participated in a festival for the Black Panthers where they read a poem about separate but equal rights. At the festival their mother heard the poem and it brings them all closer together. When it was time for the girls to leave they did not want to.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could help the students understand more about equal rights and life during this  point in history. It is important for students to know what people went through and felt during this time in history and this book does just that.

The African Safari Discovery

Title: The African Safari Discovery
Author: Josh Greenhut
Illustrator: Macky Pamintuan
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Adventure
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Date of Publication: 2011,
Theme: Going on an adventure
Primary/ Secondary Characters: Stanley/ Arthur, George Lambchop, Harriet Lambchop, Mr. Dart, Bisa, Odinga, Captain Tony, Dr. Livingston
Summary: Stanley, Arthur, and their dad go on a trip to Africa to see the recently found flat skull. They are hoping to find information to help Stanley. When they got to Africa Arthur met Odinga and Bisa who helped them get a flight to where they needed to go from their father. Captian Tony was flying the Lambchop family when he heard about a fire back home so the Lambchops had to jump off the plane. Once they landed they saw a safari as they traveled farther. They then reached the river and saw a canoe. The Lambchops borrowed he canoe and traveled down the river. Finally they found the site, but the skull was a fish skull not a human one. Stanley got upset because he made his family travel for no reason. Mr Lambchop and Arthur said it was ok because they had fun adventures that they would not of had.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could help students see how fun going on an adventure can be. If a teacher uses this book in class an exercises she or he could have the students create an adventure they would like to go on. This activity will let the students to use their creativity and imagination.

Surviving the Applewhites

Title: Surviving the Applewhites
Author: Stephine S. Tolan
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Chapter Book
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Date of Publication: 2002
Award: Newberry Honor Book
Theme: People are not always what they seem
Primary/ Secondary Characters: Jake Semple and E.D. Applewhite/ Aunt Lucille, Cordelia Applewhite, Destiny, Randolph, Zedediah Applewhite, Uncle Archie, Sybil Jameson, and Hal
Summay: Jake Semple has gotten in trouble and expelled from every school he went to. Now his only chance is the homeschool ran by the Applewhites. All of the Applewhites are artist except for E.D., who wants order and predictability. E.D. gets paired with Jake for the cooperative education experiment and neither are happy. As time goes on Jake becomes more involved and even participates in the Sound of Music performance. Jake and E.D. face many struggles, but end up developing a strong friendship and finding hidden talents.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used with students to help them see that you have to get to know a person before you judge them. Jake and E.D. ended up becoming friends which they thought would never happen because they were to quick to judge each other. Students   can learn from Jake and E.D. that they need to get to know people before they are quick to judge and make decisions about a person.

Hilary and the Troublemakers

Title: Hilary and the Troublemakers
Author: Katheleen Leverich
Illustrator: Lorraine Walter
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Chapter Book
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date of Publication: 1999
Theme: Making right decisions
Primary and Secondary Characters: Hilary/ Owl, Piggy Bank, Sheep, and Snow people
Summary: A homework-eating owl, an angry piggy bank, several talking sheep, and some snow people help Hilary to make the right decisions at home and at school.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used to help the students learn about making right decisions and telling the truth. It is important that the students know the importance of making right decisions and not telling lies and this book can do just that.

The Man with the Black Glove

Title:The Man with the Black Glove
Author: Ursel Scheffler

Illustrator: Christa Unzner

Genre: Fiction

Sub genre: Mystery

Publisher: Night Sky Books

Date of Publication: 1999

Theme: Cracking the Case

Primary/ Secondary Characters: Martin Pitman and Pauline/ Man next door, Policeman

Summary: Martin and Pauline watch a the man next door walk into the shed. When he went into the shed he had a silver suitcase, gloves, and a leather jacket, but when he cam out the suitcase was gone.They then thought they would become detectives and find out what the man was hiding. They then find a wallet on the ground so they take it to the police and make a deal with the policeman. The policeman allows them to go find the owner. Martin and Pauline find the owner of the wallet. They also find out that the man next door is a robber, so they help the police crack two cases.

Summary of how to use with students: This book could help the students realize that they can do just about what ever they want as long as they work hard at it and believe they can. Just like Martin and Pauline become detectives students can see that they can be anything they want as well. This is important because we want the students to be able to dream big.

 

A Jugsaw Jones Mystery- The Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster

Title:  A Jugsaw Jones Mystery- The Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster
Author: James Preller
Illustrator: R.W. Alley
Genre: Fiction
Sub-genre: Mystery
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
Date of Publication: 1998 
Theme: Things are not what they seem
Primary/ Secondary Characters:Jigsaw/ Wingnut and Mila.
Summary:  Jigsaw is a second grade boy who is a detective. He charges a dollar a day to solve a case and has a partner named Mila who gets half the money. One day a Wingnut can not find his pet hamster. Jigsaw and Mila try to  solve the case and find the hamster. Whenever they thought they had it they were wrong. Finally they solved the case and realize that not everything is what it seems. 
Summary of how to use with students: I could use this book to help students see that not everything is what it seems. Just like Jigsaw and Mila thought they knew the case of the Hamster they did not because it was not what it seemed. Students sometimes think they know everything but here they can learn that not everything is what it seems.

Firefighters to the Rescue

Title: Firefighters to the Rescue
Author: Kersten Hamilton
Illustrator: Rich Davis
Genre: Fiction
Sub-genre: Picture book
Publisher: Penguin Group
Date of Publication: 2005
Primary/Secondary Characters: Firefighters/ Other People
Theme: Learning about firefighters
Summary: The Firefighters are working the fire house when the fire bell rings. The firefighters put on their boots, coats, and hats. Then they hop on the firefighter and head to the fire with their sirens and light going. When at the house they get their hoses, ladders, and with water put the fire out. Then they hear a little boy calling for his dog Ben, so the firefighters go into the house and rescue the dog. The firefighters came to the rescue.
Summary of how to use the students: This book could be used to teach students all about firefighters. Sometimes when kids are younger firefighters can look scary especially in their suits. Therefore, it is important that the students know they are not bad or scary, but that they are there to help them. This book can show students what the firefighters do and that they are only there to help them.

Because of Winn Dixie

Title: Because of Winn Dixie
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Genre:  Realistic Fiction
Sub-genre: Young Readers
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Date of Publication: 2000
Award: Newberry Honor Award
Primary /Secondary Characters: India Opal Buloni/ Father (preacher), Miss Franny, Otis, and Gloria Dump
Theme: Making Friends
Summary: India Opal Buloni just moved to a small town in Florida with her father, her mother left when she was younger and her father will not talk about her. Opal is lonley and sad because she has no friends. One day while she was at the Winn-Dixie grocery store Opal found a dog. She ends up naming him Winn Dixie after the store and gets to keep him. Together Opal and Winn Dixie make friends with the locals around the town. They meet Otis, Miss Franny, and Gloria Dump which they become really close friends with.Winn Dixie also inspires Opal to convince her father to tell her things about her mother. One day Opal and Gloria were throwing a party when there was a thunderstorm and scared Winn Dixie away. Everyone searches for Winn Dixie including her father, which helps build the between Opal and her father. They end up finding Winn Dixie under the bed. Winn Dixie helps Opal make friends and brings her closer to her father.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used to teach students about making friends. Just like Winn Dixie and Opal make friends students can see that they can make friends as well. They can also see how important friendships are and what it truly means to have friend. Because of Winn Dixie is great example of true friendship.